Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Customs Preventive are at loggerhead to get recognition for the recovery of 16.7 kilograms of brown heroin worth Rs 170 million from flight PK-7121 bound for Jeddah from Karachi. According to the sources, the situation turned ugly when both organisations have started claiming recognition for recovering substantial quantity of brown heroin from flight PK-7121 bound for Jeddah from Karachi.
This controversy has not only damaged the credibility of both organisations but also raised questions regarding security and intelligence failure. Sources said both organisations instead of claiming recognition. should have jointly initiated investigation to find the security and intelligence lapse that led to the transportation of such a huge quantity of drugs to the aircraft, which had been parked in the designated hanger for last two days&
Sources said that customs' efforts for claiming recognition for the said seizure was aimed at collecting reward, which was 10 per cent of total market value of detained heroin and the national flag carrier did the same to prevent damaging its reputation. However, the said tug of war had not only earned the bad name for both organisations but also for the country, sources maintained.
Meanwhile, customs preventive at a press conference claimed that in recent past Customs staff of Preventive Collectorate Karachi has been active in recovering and seizing of huge quantity of narcotics from PIA aircraft by launching combing operation against Drug trafficking specially via aircraft bound for different international destinations in order to prevent the Drug trafficking through aircraft and to preserve the good reputation of the country.
In this respect specialised operations have been launched which include extensive use of all the available resources including recently established canine training and breeding centre at JIAP. Recently continuous surveillance and vigilance was maintained and as a consequence thereof the staff of MCC Preventive has once again succeeded in making seizure of 16.7 kilograms of brown heroin powder. The seizure was exclusively done by one of our canines named 'Veera' during a rummaging operation.
The details of the case are that on 21-12-2016 at 01.30 am, the custom staff recovered and seized 16.7kgs of Heroin powder from PIA Aircraft bearing registration AP-BGJ (Boeing 777-240 ER) parked at Bay 25 JIAP, Karachi. The said aircraft was deployed as PK-7121 bound for Jeddah from Karachi. The approximate international market value of the seized heroin is Rs 170 million. Consequent Upon the recovery and seizure of contraband heroin powder, the case has been lodged under the relevant movements of CNS Act. 1997 and further investigation was underway. Efforts are being made to nab the culprits behind this heinous crime.
On the other hand, PIA spokesman said that airline's security and vigilance team at JIAP in its routine pre-departure search of a B-777 aircraft which was scheduled to operate as PK7121 (Karachi-Jeddah) recovered approximately 15 kilograms of heroin late last night. He said that officials of ASF, ANF and Customs were also part of the search team.
He said that CEO PIA Bernd had ordered immediate inquiry and detailed investigation of the matter and has emphasised to take the responsible persons to task, which not only defamed the reputation of the airline but also of the country.